New men’s residential drug and alcohol treatment facility opens in Ogden
Kitchen at the Weber Human Services facility on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Ogden.
Laundry room at the Weber Human Services facility on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Ogden.
Living room at the Weber Human Services facility on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Ogden.
Entrance at the Weber Human Services facility on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Ogden.
Living quarters at the Weber Human Services facility on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Ogden.
Dining area at the Weber Human Services facility on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Ogden.
Shower at the Weber Human Services facility on Thursday, May 2, 2019, in Ogden.
OGDEN — After years without one, Weber County now has a new residential drug and alcohol treatment center for men.
Weber Human Services has opened a 29-bed, men’s social detox and residential support center, located at 2765 Madison Ave. Dubbed, “Stepping Stones,” the center offers men with a substance abuse disorder a stable place to live while they receive treatment and learn to reintegrate into society.
The center employs an on-site case manager, peer support specialists and offers various assessment and therapy services — all aimed at helping men at the facility find long-term sobriety, employment and housing.
Darren Sevy, program supervisor with WHS’s Addiction and Recovery Services, said the center is the only one of its kind in Weber County. A similar residential treatment facility once operated in the county, but closed years ago after funding was cut by the Utah Legislature. Sevy said the new space received some state funding to get off the ground, but will operate mostly on federal Medicaid dollars.
“This is a badly needed resource that we haven’t had in this town for a long time,” Sevy said.
Sevy said men accepted into the center must have a formal substance abuse diagnosis. The majority of residents at the center must be aided by Medicaid, but men involved in the Utah criminal justice system and those with a diagnosed opioid use disorder are also accepted.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, there were 466 opioid-related overdose deaths in Utah in 2016. Utah’s rate of 16.4 deaths per 100,000 persons was more than the national rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 persons. The NIDA says Utah providers wrote 2.2 million prescriptions for opioid pain relievers in 2015.
Sevy said the opioid crisis has driven the need for the new center.
“Ten or 15 years ago, the big drug of choice was probably methamphetamine,” Sevy said. “But now (opioids) are the big problem.”
Men admitted to the facility will immediately qualify for a 60-day stay at the center, Sevy said, and can then reapply for 30-day stay increments after that.
To apply for services, call 801-778-6811. Those interested in the center can also go to WHS offices at 237 26th Street. Walk-in services are available from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday.